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Final WA Health Insurance Rates Underscore Need to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Final WA Health Insurance Rates Underscore Need to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

80,000 Washingtonians expected to fall off Trump’s coverage cliff and lose health care if subsidies expire in January

Washington, D.C., September 10, 2025

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the final 2026 rates for health coverage on the Washington Healthplanfinder, showing an average 21% increase from this year.

“One of the biggest concerns I hear from Washington families is how fast health care costs are rising. The final 2026 health coverage premiums on the Washington Healthplanfinder will stretch family budgets even further than they already are. At the same time, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are letting insurance bills spike even higher by allowing enhanced Obamacare insurance subsidies to expire.

“Higher rates and expiring subsidies combined will result in the average WA family that receives the subsidies paying 65% more for coverage next year, making coverage unaffordable for many. An estimated 80,000 Washingtonians are expected to drop coverage as a result. We cannot let thousands of Washington families fall off Trump’s coverage cliff. Congress must protect working families by extending these insurance subsidies and prevent this needless price hike.”

Background

  • The average Washingtonian saves $1,330 a year because of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies.
  • Over 216,000 people in Washington currently receive them.
  • 80,000 are expected to drop their coverage because of the premium increases starting in January.
  • In August, DelBene hosted an event highlighting the harm of letting the subsidies expire.
  • DelBene is a cosponsor of the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act, which makes the enhanced subsidies permanent.  
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McGovern Reintroduces Constitutional Amendment to End Big Money in Politics

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) reintroduced the Free and Fair Elections Amendment, a sweeping constitutional amendment designed to curb the outsized influence of big money in American politics and restore democratic power to the people.

The amendment establishes clear, enforceable rules to protect the integrity of U.S. elections. It would:

  • Prohibit corporations from spending money to influence federal elections.
  • Limit individual contributions and expenditures in federal races to $1,000 in total.
  • Require Congress to create a public campaign financing system for federal candidates—or withhold congressional pay until it does.
  • Affirm the right of states to set their own contribution and spending limits for state and local elections.

If ratified, the amendment would overturn Citizens United v. FEC, Buckley v. Valeo, SpeechNow.org v. FEC, and related rulings that opened the floodgates to allow unlimited campaign donations from corporations, super PACs, and billionaires.

“Since Citizens United, more than $77 billion has poured into U.S. elections, rigging our democratic system to benefit the well-off and well-connected,” said McGovern. “That’s not democracy—that’s an auction. It’s government of, by, and for billionaires and big corporations, not the people. To fix our broken system, Congress must get big money out of politics and restore democratic power to the ballot box where it belongs.”

For years, McGovern has been a leading advocate on campaign finance reform, introducing and supporting legislation that asserts corporations are not people, gets big money out of politics, and restores election integrity.

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CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT & DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES LEAD LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE U.S. TRADE PROMOTION PROGRAM FOR HAITI

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Alayah Phipps 

September 10, 2025                                            202-813-2793 

PRESS RELEASE 

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT & DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES LEAD LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE U.S. TRADE PROMOTION PROGRAM FOR HAITI 

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett shared the following statement on the introduction of the HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2025, H.R.5209: 

“I am pleased to re-introduce this timely legislation with my fellow Democratic colleagues, Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and 18 other Democratic members. This bill will extend the U.S. preferential duty treatment program provided for Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) of 1983 for an additional ten years, through 2035.  The bill also authorizes new technical assistance and capacity building in Haiti and contains additional authorities for enforcement of internationally recognized labor standards and the labor standards of Haiti.” 

Haiti is experiencing a humanitarian, political and economic crisis and needs both economic and political stability. Haitian production and jobs would be benefited by receiving the certainty of longer-term trading access to the United States.   

“Haiti is facing serious challenges right now and passing Congresswoman Plaskett’s bill is critical to provide the stability and support they need. We must renew and reform the U.S. preferential duty treatment program to address labor rights violations in Haiti. Doing so, will give Haitian workers and families the long-term certainty necessary to build a stronger, more hopeful future.” said Ranking Member Linda Sánchez. 

The HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act would extend the period during which imports of certain Haitian-manufactured textile and apparel, and other goods produced in Haiti are eligible for duty-free treatment from 2025 to 2035 and contains provisions to authorize additional technical assistance and capacity building in Haiti to close utilization gaps in the program found by the International Trade Commission. Without Congressional action, this preference program will expire in September 2025, next month.  

Congresswoman Plaskett also shared, “I continue to emphasize the great importance of U.S. trade engagement in the Caribbean region. The United States has a responsibility to support its Caribbean neighbors and, while the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE Act) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act (HELP Act) have helped create support for the Haitian economy, this legislation seeks to establish more comprehensive and diverse trade engagement between the U.S. and Haiti, including by uplifting Haitian workers with high labor standards.   

“It is my hope that this legislation creates the foundation for stronger bilateral economic ties, greater certainty for investors that these benefits will be there for Haiti over the long term, and the economic security that is needed for Haiti to rebuild from the ground up and emerge more prosperous and resilient. 

“I would like to thank Reps. Linda Sanchez Linda Sanchez, Yvette Clarke, Maxine Waters, Susan DelBene, Don Beyer, Judy Chu, Teri Sewell, Gwen Moore, Tom Suozzi, Jimmy Gomez, Dwight Evans, Jimmy Panetta, Steven Horsford, John Larsen, Gabe Amo, Hank Johnson, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Kweisi Mfume and Valarie Foushee for their support in co-leading this important bill. This legislation, if passed out of the Ways and Means Committee, would proceed to the House floor for a full vote. If passed there, would need to be voted on in the Senate. If passed in the House and the Senate, it would then be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law.” 

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Congresswoman Torres Fights to Protect Early Childhood Education and Federal Disaster Aid for California Families in FY26 LHHS Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

September 10, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma Torres introduced two amendments during the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations markup, that would protect and expand critical investments in early childhood education and child care that directly impact California families.

The underlying FY26 LHHS bill pushed by Republicans defunds K-12 schools and lifesaving health research and will hurt Inland Empire families. The bill also eliminates the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program—the only federal funding stream dedicated to helping states build strong early childhood systems for children ages 0 to 5.

Congresswoman Torres’ first amendment would restore the program to its previous level of $315 million, ensuring that California and other states can continue strengthening preschool access and supporting families with young children.

“Cutting preschool development grants would set our children back before they’ve even started,” said Congresswoman Torres. “California families depend on these grants to improve care and education for our children under five. I will fight to make sure every child, no matter their ZIP code, has the foundation they need to succeed.”

Torres also introduced an amendment to provide $240 million in emergency supplemental funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to help states, including California, recover from natural disasters that have destroyed or damaged child care facilities. The proposal was modeled on Governor Newsom’s request for federal disaster aid, which identified child care assistance as a critical need for families recovering from fires, floods, and other emergencies.

“When disasters strike, California families cannot wait for child care,” Torres added. “The devastating January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles are a stark reminder that parents need safe, reliable options so they can work, rebuild, and care for their families. This amendment ensures that federal aid keeps pace with the realities our communities face.”

The Amendments would:

  • Restore Preschool Development Grant Funding (PDG B-5) – $315 million restored to the only federal program that supports states in improving early childhood care and education systems.

  • Provide Emergency CCDBG Funding – $240 million in much needed federal aid to help rebuild, repair, and expand child care facilities in states impacted by natural disasters like the January 2025 Southern California Wildfires.

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Read More (ICYMI: Rep. Steube Pens Op-Ed in The Washington Times on U.S. Intelligence Shortcomings)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) penned an opinion piece on the value of Open-Source Intelligence and the need for U.S. intelligence to modernize in the face of growing threats. Read the Op-Ed in The Washington Times here or below.U.S. intelligence is sitting idly byThe Washington TimesFor far too long, the intelligence community has resorted to admiring problems instead of fixing them, a pattern of behavior that risks our national security and demands intervention.Deep-rooted institutional inertia is undermining the intelligence community, with bureaucratic managers resisting long-overdue changes to established policies, processes and strategies. Just as once-dominant companies, including Blackberry and Blockbuster, failed to keep up with the times, U.S. intelligence officials have sat idly by while our talent, tradecraft and technology have languished. Turning into an immovable bureaucracy unable to keep pace with the constant modern technological advancements is contributing to the growing deficits of talent, mindset and skills required to meet today’s challenges.For more than six years, I have had the honor of serving the people of Florida’s 17th Congressional District. As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have oversight responsibility for Open-Source Intelligence, along with the subcommittees for the National Security Agency & cyber and defense intelligence & overhead architecture. Since joining the intelligence committee, I have grown increasingly concerned with the intelligence community’s unwillingness to match the accelerating pace of technological change in the world.While adversaries exploit advances in artificial intelligence, open-source data and cyber capabilities, the intelligence community remains anchored to legacy systems, outdated analytical models and rigid institutional practices. This lack of agility and innovation threatens to render U.S. intelligence obsolete. The intelligence community risks losing strategic advantage, compromising national security and becoming increasingly irrelevant in a rapidly evolving global threat environment.A vast amount of data is publicly and commercially available that the intelligence community is reluctant to use as a collection source for analyzing and producing intelligence. I have concluded that the intelligence community considers Open-Source Intelligence “less than” other “clandestinely” collected human or signals intelligence.Right now, there is a belief that top-secret and compartmented is somehow better or more reliable than open source, but that is plain wrong. This dogmatic and outdated thinking has permeated the intelligence community to the point of compromising our ability to identify and eliminate potential threats.The intelligence community has requested an $81.9 billion budget, which poses the question: Why are we spending billions of dollars to collect secrets if the information is commercially or publicly available? Why are we risking American lives by operating in the shadows to search for and fail at finding information that exists online?Open-Source Intelligence is the least-resourced and treated as an outcast. Yet when I meet with intelligence officers in the field, they repeatedly emphasize their desire to access this high-value information that the private sector is releasing but that their organizations lack the resources, policies or capabilities to obtain.What is the point of having access to this vast amount of data if the intelligence community refuses to adapt and evolve?One of the most glaring issues is how the intelligence community procures and manages commercially available information. Congress must now force a course correction. It is time for the intelligence community to change and work with Congress to identify a solution that maximizes taxpayers’ return on investment while ensuring intelligence requirements are met. Open-Source Intelligence is the future of the intelligence community.Rep. Greg Steube is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He represents Florida’s 17th Congressional District.

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WATCH: Pressley, Ramirez, Khalil, Actors Urge Passage of Block the Bombs Act, Demand Aid and End to Genocide in Gaza

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Pressley Continues to Demand Trump Admin. Surge Aid, Infant Formula into Gaza

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined Congresswoman Delia Ramírez (IL-03), actors Cynthia Nixon and Morgan Spector, Mahmoud Khalil, Dr. Adil Husain, Congressional colleagues, and advocates to call for the passage of H.R. 3565, The Block the Bombs Act, to save lives. The Block the Bombs Act would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli government and demand the Israeli military’s compliance with U.S. and international law. 

Last month, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) led 101 of their colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to use its full power and authority to demand that Israeli government immediately facilitate a massive surge in all humanitarian aid, and in particular infant formula, into Gaza to address the crisis of starvation. After receiving no response and no action from Secretary Marco Rubio, Reps. Pressley and Pettersen condemned his silence and renewed their call for an immediate surge in infant formula and humanitarian aid.

A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks at the press conference is available below, and full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley Urges Passage of Block the Bombs Act, Demands Aid and End to Genocide in Gaza
September 10, 2025
Washington, DC

I come to this as a woman of faith and I can’t help but to revisit the psalm that I learned as a child, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

There has been no joy. For 23 months, there has only been weeping.

And in that time, 20,000 children have been robbed of their lives. One Palestinian child is killed every hour. A thousand of those children have been under the age of one.

James Baldwin reminds us that “the children are always ours, every one of them, all over the world, always.”

There is something about being a parent, either by blood or bond, that can radicalize you for good if you let it.

It will embolden you in ways you never imagined.

And once you start to connect that every child is a universe, every child is someone’s whole world, you cannot unsee how connected our shared humanity truly is.

Right now in Gaza, babies are dying, killed by airstrikes and military blockades.

No child should die of starvation as food and baby formula sit mere miles away, held back by the Israeli military from dying families.

No child should shake in their sleep as bombs erupt overheard or plead to die with their parents so they are not left alone.

For nearly two years, we have watched a genocide unfold in real time.

I am devastated by every child, elder, parent and loved one who has been murdered – Israelis, Palestinians and Americans.

The cruelty taking place in Gaza is unfathomable. Death by starvation. Death by airstrike. Death by military firing squad.

Shamefully, the United States has not only turned away, it has manufactured and delivered the very weapons that rain down on innocent civilians. Entire families have been murdered.

Entire families have been murdered—from infants to elders and every generation in between.

For months now, we have called for an embargo on offensive weapons. Thank you to my sister Congresswoman Ramirez for her leadership and her clarity in introducing H.R. 3565 affirming our calls.

The United States must stop sending bombs.

We have called for a critical surge of humanitarian aid, medical equipment, food, and baby formula.

Last month, I led a letter, 100 Members of Congress joined with me to call on Secretary Rubio to use the full authority of the United States government to pressure Israel to surge ready-to-feed baby formula to families who need it desperately.

Secretary Rubio is a father.

Surely, Secretary Rubio, you must know the panic of fumbling for a bottle to feed a hungry child in the middle of the night.

Now, imagine, Secretary Rubio, if what stood between you and soothing your baby was a military blockade.

Can you? Can you imagine it?

Because you still have not responded in word or action.

To date, you have ignored the House and the Senate calling on you to act and respond.

Every day that you fail to act costs precious lives.

Our humanity is at stake here. Vengeance and greed cannot be the United States’ policy doctrine.

No country can bomb their way to peace. Starving a child is violent. And the children are all of ours, always.

History has its eyes on us. Our children will ask what we did in this moment. And the only acceptable answer is absolutely everything that we could.

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Relevant background regarding Rep Pressley’s work

Rep. Pressley has long advocated for safe and accessible baby formula. Rep Pressley has consistently called for peace and a ceasefire in Gaza to save the lives of civilians, hostages, Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans.

In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with and Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16)  and Grace Meng (NY-06), urged President Biden to use all applicable executive authorities to end the baby formula shortage. In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) and the Massachusetts delegation, sent a letter to Abbott Laboratories Chairman and CEO Robert Ford requesting urgent information on the company’s plans to replenish its Similac baby formula in Massachusetts.

Since the horrific October 7th attack, Congresswoman Pressley has consistently and stridently called for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza. Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the region and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to prevent a broader regional war.  Rep. Pressley introduced a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military.

  • Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and their colleagues on a resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal attack and hostage-taking, and demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages.
  • Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and 50 colleagues on a letter condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.
  • Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in announcing a resolution urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible. She later joined her colleagues and a multi-faith, multiracial coalition of faith leaders and organizers for a prayer and press conference to renew their calls for a ceasefire. Rep. Pressley also joined dozens of rabbis and Members of Congress for a press conference to renew calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Instead of attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, Rep. Pressley spent the day centering people directly impacted by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza
  • Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she condemned antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate on college campuses.
  • Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of nearly 100 interfaith clergy and faith leaders on a joint statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and nearly 150 colleagues in urging the State Department to use all tools at its disposal help get Americans out of Israel and back home to the United States. She applauded the State Department for heeding her calls on October 12, 2023 and continues to press for the urgent evacuation of Americans in Gaza.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement following the safe evacuation of Massachusetts constituents Wafaa and Abood Okal and their one-year-old Yousef from Gaza.
  • Rep. Pressley and Rep. Jamie Raskin led a group of 60 House lawmakers in urging the State Department to affirm the United States’ strong opposition to the forced and permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and to support an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
  • Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Betty McCollum (MN-4) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden, asking him to support a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza to protect the one million children living there.
  • Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of interfaith clergy and faith leaders for a vigil to mourn the tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and innocent civilians killed since October 7th, and to renew calls for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
  • Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues at a press conference to condemn the Israeli government’s pending invasion of Rafah and continued her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in calling for full funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide urgent humanitarian relief to Gaza.
  • Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Joaquín Castro, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky and 33 House Democrats to President Biden urging him to prevent an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
  • Rep. Pressley, amid heightened tensions in the region, delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent a broader regional war.
  • Rep. Pressley filed a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military. The amendments were not adopted in the final legislation. 
  • Rep. Pressley voted against HR 8034 to send more offensive weapons and funding to the Israeli military, citing the Israeli military’s callous disregard for human life in Gaza and significant human rights violations.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the peaceful student protests taking place in Massachusetts and across the country.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Boston City Council for passing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and 54 additional lawmakers in calling on the Biden Administration to use all tools possible to dissuade the Israeli government from moving forward with an offensive invasion into Rafah.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement in response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
  • Rep. Pressley joined impacted families, faith leaders, and advocates to observe the anniversary of the horrific October 7, 2023 attack and commemorate the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas, the hostages killed and those still kidnapped, and the over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed by the Israeli military over the past year.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7th attack.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement urging the Senate to support Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that would block the sale of offensive arms to the Israeli government.
  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the ceasefire-hostage deal reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.

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Newhouse Votes to Support Rural Healthcare and Tribal Health Services

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes to Support Rural Healthcare and Tribal Health Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by the House Appropriations Committee last night. 

“House Appropriations has delivered again on our commitment to rein in federal spending while supporting programs that truly benefit taxpayers across the country,” said Rep. Newhouse. “This legislation maintains critical funding for primary healthcare, strengthens the health workforce in rural areas, and supports our tribal communities with child and family services. We increased funding for grants to mental health and substance use, childcare development, and sustained funding for Head Start which serves children in Central Washington.” 

Newhouse added, “We also included a number of national security provisions, including new biomedical research to counter China’s growing influence in the research field, and prohibiting China from purchasing supplies from our Strategic National Stockpile. I thank Chairman Cole and Subcommittee Chairman Aderholt on delivering a product that refocuses taxpayer dollars on programs with a proven record.” 

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $184.5 billion, which is $13.7 billion, or seven percent, below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. This legislation:

Saves taxpayer dollars and supports critical services by: 

  • Providing increased funding for youth and young adult suicide prevention, mental health treatment, and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
  • Strengthening Tribal communities by supporting mental health and substance abuse treatment, elder care, and child and family services, while promoting accountability and self-sufficiency.
  • Defunding the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), which the Biden Administration improperly used to carry out activities related to adult alcohol consumption.
  • Streamlining duplicative behavioral health programs focused on criminal and juvenile justice programs and homelessness prevention.

Boosts U.S. national security and border protections by: 

  • Providing $48 billion in funding to support biomedical research, a necessary counter to China’s growing threat in basic science research.
  • Strengthening America’s biodefense and countering global health security threats by providing more than $3 billion for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
  • Prohibiting the purchase of supplies from China for the Strategic National Stockpile, which supports American manufacturers by expanding the domestic industrial base for these items.
  • Prioritizing the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children under custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement through improved sponsor vetting, interagency data sharing, welfare checks, and reporting requirements.
  • Securing the nation’s food security by rolling back the Biden Administration’s burdensome one-size-fits-all regulations leading to the closure of small family farms. 

See bill text before adoption of amendments here. 

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Carter, Griffith release statement on GAO’s Vision Benefit Managers Report

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter, Griffith release statement on GAO’s Vision Benefit Managers Report

Carter, Griffith release statement on GAO’s Vision Benefit Managers Report

Washington, September 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today released the following statement regarding a forthcoming Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Vision Benefit Managers (VBMs):


“We’re happy to hear GAO is nearing completion of its work detailing the growing abuses of Vision Benefit Managers. Since GAO was first tasked with this project by Chairman Guthrie nearly two years ago, VBMs’ anti-patient, and anti-competitive tactics have only increased and their stranglehold on consumers and communities has continued to grow. We expect this report will shine a light on those abuses, and we look forward to a swift conclusion to the report.” 

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Trump, Republicans Shut Down Virginia Rural Health Clinics

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Augusta Medical Group announced days ago that it would permanently close three health clinics in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The clinics were located in Buena Vista, Churchville, and Weyers Cave, all in the rural I-81 corridor that runs through the western part of the Commonwealth. Augusta’s announcement of the closures said they were “part of Augusta Health’s ongoing response to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the sprawling law enacted by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Trump earlier this summer that showered enormous tax cuts on the wealthy while slashing health care for millions of Americans.

Democrats in Virginia’s congressional delegation repeatedly warned their Republicancolleagues that passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would lead to closures of medical facilities serving Virginia’s rural communities. Virginia Republicans ultimately rejected those concerns and supported the bill anyway. 

Today Virginians are unfortunately learning that warnings of closures were well-founded:

Richmond Times Dispatch: Three Va. Health Clinics Close As Trump Tax Law Squeezes System

“When President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law July 4 in the White House Rose Garden, he sealed the fate of three health care clinics in the rural Shenandoah Valley. … [T]he massive tax-cut package — partly paid for with cuts to Medicaid and its reimbursements to health care providers — “made our decision very clear,” said Mary Mannix, president and CEO of Augusta Health and a member of the physician organization’s board of directors.”

Virginia Mercury: Augusta Health Closes Three Clinics, Citing One Big Beautiful Bill Act

“About 21% of 6th Congressional District residents are on Medicaid, according to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. The 6th District includes much of Shenandoah Valley… Most Republicans — including all of Virginia’s Republican congressional delegation — supported the President Donald Trump-backed bill.”

These three clinics may not be the only health facilities to close as a result of the law’s passage: 

WVEC [Norfolk]: Southampton Medical Center At Risk Of Closure After Medicaid Cuts Hit Rural Hospitals

“Southampton Medical Center is one of six Virginia hospitals at risk of shuttering its doors, following cuts to Medicaid brought on by the Trump Administration’s budget bill. 

Billions of dollars are set to leave rural hospitals nationwide as a part of the cuts.”

Republicans who voted for the cuts that led to these closures have nothing to say so far:

Virginia Dogwood: Virginia Republicans Silent As Trump’s Medicaid Cuts Blamed For Rural Clinics Closing

The clinic closures are big news in western and southwest Virginia:

Cardinal News [Southwest Virginia]: Medical Facilities In 3 Shenandoah Valley Communities To Close; Augusta Medical Group Cites One Big Beautiful Bill As Reason

“Augusta Medical Group announced Thursday that it’s closing primary care facilities in Buena Vista, Churchville and Weyers Cave in response to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Patients will be transferred to or “encouraged” to visit to other Augusta Medical Group facilities, the Buena Vista patients to Lexington, the Churchville patients to Verona, the Weyers Cave patients to Crozet, Staunton, Stuarts Draft or Waynesboro. Of note: Crozet is on the other side of the Blue Ridge.”

WDBJ [Roanoke]: Buena Vista Health Clinic Set To Close

WHSV [Harrisonburg]: Augusta Medical Group To Consolidate Clinics, Partly In Response To ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

“Augusta Health’s president, Mary Mannix, spoke with WHSV in July about the impacts of the bill. At the time, Mannix said about 70% of the patient population at Augusta Health was on the Medicare or Medicaid system, which is expected to see $1 trillion worth of cuts over the next 10 years due to the bill.”

WSET [Lynchburg]: Some Patients Will Have To Travel For Healthcare As Buena Vista Clinic Closes

“Locals tell me that the clinic closing its doors is disappointing. While there is a Carillion Clinic Family Medicine nearby, many patients will have to travel to other Augusta Health locations for care.”

WFXR [Roanoke]: Augusta Medical Group To Consolidate Three Clinics, Buena Vista Patients Reassigned

Staunton News Leader: Warner And Kaine Respond To Augusta Health Clinic Closures

WVTF Virginia Public Radio: Augusta Medical Group Closing Three Clinics

“Difficulty recruiting medical professionals and the forecasted impacts of the Trump administration’s healthcare funding cuts have led Augusta Medical Group to close three facilities.”

Rappahannock News [carrying the Mercury story]: Shenandoah Valley Health System Closes Three Clinics, Citing One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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Chairman Griffith Leads Markup Hearing, Votes to Advance Public Health and Rural Health Care Bills

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, held a markup hearing to advance several public health bills. During the markup hearing, Chairman Griffith voted for proposals that reauthorize public health programs, support rural health care access to health care services and address shortages in our public health workforce.

Following the markup hearing, Chairman Griffith issued the following statement:

“As we must do with every authorization bill that moves through this committee, it is critical that we evaluate the impacts these programs have had, and not only ensure the money is being spent as it was originally intended, but also ensure patient privacy is protected. Considering each of these reauthorizations is an important step forward to ensure each program is working as intended, and we will continue to examine these programs as we move to full committee.”

Congressman Griffith’s opening remarks in the markup hearing can be seen here or below.

BACKGROUND

This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

In his first public actions after being named Chairman, Representative Griffith visited multiple rural health care providers in Southwest Virginia.

Chairman Griffith held a legislative hearing in July on many of the bills considered in today’s markup hearing.

H.R. 2493, Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, continues existing programs that include direct funding to rural underserved populations.

H.R. 3419, To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs, preserves and promotes the use of telehealth and telemedicine in the treatment of patients.  

Another proposal, H.R. 4262, reauthorizes programs related to health care professions education. This bill helps fund the education, training and preparation of prospective health care professionals.

Expiration of these public health programs will occur at the end of Fiscal Year 2025.

These bills will next be considered by the full Energy and Commerce Committee before potential consideration by the full House.

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